GSLIS 767: Book Review: A Thousand Beginnings and Endings

Edited by Ellen Oh and Elise Chapman

Greenwillow Books

ISBN 9780062671158

Ages 14-18

328 Pages

In this short story anthology, fifteen bestselling and acclaimed authors reimagine the folklore and mythology of East and South Asia, transforming them into a wide range of genres, from fantasy to science fiction to contemporary, from romance to tales of revenge. At the end of each story, the author writes about the myth, folk tale, or legend that it was based on, and their own experiences or feelings about that story. Compiled by We Need Diverse Books’s Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman, the authors included in this collection are: Renee Ahdieh, Sona Charaipotra, Preeti Chhibber, Roshani Chokshi, Aliette de Bodard, Melissa de la Cruz, Julie Kagawa, Rahul Kanakia, Lori M. Lee, E. C. Myers, Cindy Pon, Aisha Saeed, Shveta Thakrar, and Alyssa Wong.

The first thing that attracted me to this anthology was the cover. It is gorgeously rendered and I had to take it off the shelf before it got lost in my ever-growing TBR list. Of the stories, I would have to say that Alyssa Wong’s Olivia’s Table was my favorite. Beautifully written, this haunting story is based on the Chinese Hungry Ghost festivals. I like the way that Wong tackles identity issues of being mixed race, and being part of a diaspora. Overall, this is a fantastic anthology. If you like fantasy, short stories, myths, legends, and folktales, this is the book for you.

GSLIS 767: Book Review: Sweet

By Emmy Laybourne

Feiwel & Friends

ISBN 9781250055194

Ages 14-18

304 Pages

Told from the perspectives of normal teen girl Laurel and celebrity Tom Forelli, the celebrity-filled Cruise to Lose is where new diet sweetener Solu will be released. Solu promises to drop five percent of a person’s body weight in just days, which could solve the world’s obesity problem. But as the week-long cruise goes on, the passengers start acting stranger and stranger – and suddenly this trip of a lifetime goes tragically, horrifyingly wrong.

I generally steer clear from horror; it gives me nightmares. Sweet, however, was a gift from a friend, so when trying to pick a book for this week, I decided to give it a shot. This book is definitely giving me nightmares, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the story. The book was an interesting take on diet culture, and the way that it effects the lives of men and women. The book’s villain was a bit of a caricature and a little over-the-top in terms of evilness and sheer malice. The multiple perspectives between Laurel and Tom worked well, and I enjoyed Laurel’s body positivity, which was sharply contrasted by her friend Viv, and even Tom’s views on body image. The book does get a bit gore-y, so would not be good for the squeamish. For those looking for a good thrill, this is definitely a great read.

GSLIS 767: Book Review: Power in Numbers: The Rebel Women of Mathematics

By Talithia Williams, PhD

Race Point Publishers

ISBN: 978-1631064852

Ages 14-18

224 Pages

In this full-color, non-fiction book, Talitia Williams shines a light on the forgotten influence and achievements of women in mathematics. The book is divided into three sections: I – The Pioneers, II – From Code Breaking to Rocket Science and III – Modern Math Mavens. Each section details the careers and achievements of thirty women scientists and mathematicians, with brief mentions of several other female mathematic pioneers.

While putting together a display for my library, I saw this title on an online must-read list. I thought the title sounded cool, so I gave it a shot. I’m so glad I did. The book is not very thick, but has a bit of a heaviness to it, with glossy pages and full-color pictures. What’s great about this book is that you don’t have to read it in order, and each profile of the different women is not very long, but is still very informative and interesting. For those who want to learn more about a particular woman, there is an index for further reading in the back, organized by section and name.

This book makes a point to feature a diverse range of women. While many of the women featured in the more modern sections tend to be American, there is a range of races represented and Williams purposefully discusses the way that women such as Mary Winston Jackson (NASA’s first black female engineer) were effected by race and prejudice. It does get into some more complicated types of math, however these are approached in a way that does make them more accessible, and helps readers understand what these women do.

An inspiring, fantastic book, fans of math, science, and incredible women will enjoy this book.

 

GSLIS 767: Book Review: Queen of Attolia

By Megan Whalen Turner

Greenwillow Books

ISBN: 978-0062642974

Ages 14-18

416 Pages

  

In Megan Whalen Turner’s The Queen of Attolia, readers will find themselves back on the Little Peninsula first introduced in the Newbery Award winning book, The Thief.

When Eugenides is caught by Attolian guard, the Queen of Attolia executes her long-awaited revenge on the Thief – by cutting off his hand. In the aftermath, Gen is nearly destroyed by the loss, while the Queen of Eddis is enraged and declares war on Attolia. Meanwhile, Sounis begins his attack on both neighboring countries in an attempt to unite the territory against the outside threat of the Mede Empire. What follows is a complex story of politics, diplomacy, military strategies and intrigue.

While the first book does a great job introducing many of the characters, places, and politics of the world, this second book brings them to life in a way that exceeds the wildest expectations. Written in the third person, the book allows readers into the minds of all the major players, creating nuanced and complex layers to the story, and allowing the characters to develop into fully-realized and fascinating people. Even with this insight into the character’s minds, Turner still manages to surprise the readers with plot twists and last-minute reveals that change everything.

Of all the plot points and character development, the development of the Queens of Eddis and Attolia and the relationship between them is my favorite part. Turner uses them to show the different ways that political leaders – particularly female leaders – can show strength, and does not allow a petty competition between these two strong, powerful women.

Perfect for fans of historical fiction, fantasy, political and military dramas, and intrigue, this book is a must-read.

GSLIS 767: Book Review: Furiously Happy

Book Review: Furiously Happy

By Jenny Lawson

Macmillan

ISBN: 978- 1250077028

Ages 14-18

353 Pages

“What I want you to know: Dying is easy. Comedy is hard. Clinical depression is no f*cking picnic.” – Jenny Lawson, Furiously Happy

In her second memoir, Jenny Lawson (aka the Bloggess) examines her experience with severe depression, anxiety, and other conditions using humor. The book is truly a true confessions book, with Lawson truly giving a no-holds-barred look at everything you ever wanted to know but were too afraid to ask that’s going on in her head.

The book doesn’t always seem to follow a linear timeline, telling stories of when she was a child, to an adult, all interspersed with Lawson’s wry and painfully honest discussion of mental illness. She manages to humanize depression and mental illness, and she does it by reaching out and making it extremely relatable, not shameful or embarrassing. Her refusal to be embarrassed is incredibly inspiring, and her overall message is something that I think we could all use. Although the book includes mild cursing, the book is a good fit for teens who enjoy memoirs, humor, or just some really weird stories about taxidermy (including the story behind the raccoon on the cover).

GSLIS 767: Book Reviews: When Dimple Met Rishi

When Dimple Met Rishi

By Sandhya Menon

Simon and Schuster

ISBN: 978-1481478694

Ages 14-18

400 Pages

Looking for a cute, quirky contemporary romance? Look no further. When Dimple Shah heads off to a summer coding program, the last thing on her mind is romance. Unfortunately for her, Rishi Patel, the son of her parents’ friends, is looking forward to meeting her – as his future wife, a match pre-arranged by their parents. The Shahs and the Patels didn’t mean to start their “suggested arrangement” so early, but with both of them attending the same summer program, they figure why not?

This book is adorable and extremely funny. Dimple and Rishi’s first disastrous meeting had me in stitches, and following them through their crazy summer was a joy. Dimple is a strong, funny, bright young woman who knows what she wants and is not afraid to speak her mind. Rishi is just a total dork, who is so dedicated to his family and those he loves. Both Rishi and Dimple are Indian-American, which influences a lot of who they are as characters. The book provides a few simple introductions into some Indian-American culture, but does not delve very deeply into it. Perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, this is one book you do not want to miss.

 

GSLIS 767: The Prince and The Dressmaker Review

The Prince and the Dressmaker

By Jen Wang

First Second Books

ISBN: 978- 1626723634

Age Range: 14-18

288 Pages

When Frances, one of the many seamstresses at a Paris dress shop is given a last-minute assignment to make a dress for a young woman who wants nothing at all to do with the upcoming royal ball, she heeds the young woman’s advice: “You know what, just make it ghastly,” the young woman tells Frances, “Make me look like the devil’s wench.” The result is something that would not be out of place at a VMA red carpet event or music video, causing a scandal, leaving Frances unemployed. Luckily for her, it catches the eye of Prince Sebastian, who engages Frances as his personal dressmaker.

In this fairytale-like graphic novel, Prince Sebastian needs a dressmaker to satisfy his secret desire to wear dresses – not just at home, but out on the town. Frances quickly becomes his confidant as Sebastian hits the streets of Paris as the mysterious Lady Crystallia, wearing Frances’ creative, fantastical, trendsetting designs. When everything comes to a head, it still ends on a surprisingly happy note.

What I love most about the book is that Sebastian never says anything either way regarding how he perceives his gender identity. It can best be summed up by Frances: “this is the way he is” and that’s that. Ultimately, his gender identity doesn’t matter, so much as his dress-wearing is considered abnormal behavior, and what he truly needs acceptance for.

This is the perfect read for lovers of fairytales, or readers who have ever felt like an outsider for what they love.

 

GSLIS 767: Lumberjanes: Beware the Kitten Holy Review

Lumberjanes: Beware the Kitten Holy, volume 1

Written by: Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis; illustrated by Brooke Allen; colors by Maarta Laiho; letters by Aubrey Aiese

Boom! Studios

ISBN: 978-1608866878

Age Range: 14-18; All ages

128 Pages

At Miss Quinzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types, summer starts out with a bang for the girls of Roanoke Cabin, – April, Jo, Mal, Molly, and Ripley – who we first meet mid-search in the woods for a woman they saw turn into a bear, in the middle of the night. Things take a turn for the weird as they are attacked by three -eyed wolves, a river monster, and hipster Yetis. Through the power of friendship and Lumberjane badge-earning skills, they solve a series of riddles to discover the meaning of the cryptic message “Beware the Kitten Holy.”

This first volume collects the first four comics of the series, adding pages from the Lumberjanes Field Manual in the beginning and end of each comic. The addition of the Field Manuel pages helps further our understanding of the Lumberjanes’ mission, and just how intense and competent the Lumberjanes are – which brings to mind my own experience with the Girl Scouts of America, and the requirements for badges, as well as the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards.

The girls of Roanoke Cabin are a fun bunch to follow, and all are drawn with different body types and sizes, and with distinct personalities and skills. The girls get along really well, preferring to work together than compete, and they always have each other’s backs, embodying the Lumberjanes motto, “Friendship to the max!”

There is so much to love about this first volume, from the art to the propensity of characters to call out well known women like Mae Jemison and Bessie Coleman. They are smart, capable, and just so much fun to follow. Perfect for fans of mystery, weirdness, and friendship, this book leaves readers excited to see what will happen next.

GSLIS 767: Book Review: Warcross

Warcross

by Marie Lu

G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

ISBN 978-0399547966

Age Range: 14-18

368 Pages

Eighteen year old Emika Chan is in trouble. In a split-second decision, Emika – desperate for money – takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships. With the whole world watching, she accidentally glitches herself into the game and becomes an overnight sensation. Now she’s been hired by the CEO and creator of Warcross, young billionaire genius Hideo Tanaka, to help uncover a security problem in the highly popular virtual reality world of Warcross. What she uncovers may have consequences for not just the virtual reality of Warcross, but the real world as well.

The novel itself is action-packed and exciting, juxtaposing the virtual reality that Warcross creates with the grittiness of the real world in a way that is thought-provoking. The characters are diverse: Emika is Chinese-American, Hideo is Japanese, the captain of Emika’s Warcross team is in a wheelchair, and two of the other Warcross players, Roshan and Tremaine, are gay. The romance subplot falls a little flat, as does Emika’s relationship with her late father, but the real strength of the book is the world that Lu creates, where the virtual world and the real world mirror one another in a number of ways. Fans of dystopian fiction, science fiction, or video games will highly enjoy this book.

LIBSCI 767: Book Review: Nimona

Nimona

by Noelle Stevenson

Age Range 14-18

Format: Ebook

Nimona, an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for evil-doing, decides that she would be the perfect sidekick for notorious villain, Lord Ballister Blackheart. Unfortunately for Blackheart, who was not looking for a sidekick, Nimona is here to stay and ready to wreak some havoc. Together, they work to prove that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren’t as good as everyone thinks they are. When Lord Blackheart realizes that his new sidekick has a dangerous wild side and a shadowy past, he realizes he may be a little in over his head.

For those who like magic and science side-by-side, this irreverently funny and fast-paced comic is the perfect fit. The book itself takes classic fantasy tropes and turns them on their heads. Stevenson’s revised illustrations feature simplistic, stylized characters. Nimona has the awkward proportions of a preteen girl, and her shapeshifting forms are fun to see. It is easy to see the webcomic origins in the episodic nature of many of the pages, filled with puns and punchlines that still work well in the new format. Perfect for fans of webcomics, strong female characters, and fantasy, readers may also enjoy Friends with Boys by Erin Hicks, or the Lumberjanes series, of which Noelle Stevenson is a co-writer.